Broadcast receiving apparatus and method for controlling broadcast receiving apparatus

ABSTRACT

A broadcast receiving apparatus is equipped with a plurality of tuners that can respectively receive a control signal including region information identifying a region and channel designation information designating a program broadcast channel. A channel selection action of each tuner, display processing for a display unit, and recording processing for a storage unit are controlled based on a channel selection state of each tuner and the control signal. Furthermore, a tuner to select a channel designated by the channel designation information is determined based on a state of use of each tuner.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/627,647 filed Jan. 26, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,144,259, whichclaims the benefit of and priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2006-043966, filed Feb. 21, 2006, the entire contents of each of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatusconfigured to receive broadcast waves of digital and analog televisionbroadcasting services or terrestrial and satellite broadcastingservices, and also relates to a method for controlling a broadcastreceiving apparatus. In particular, when a broadcast receiving apparatusincludes plural tuners simultaneously receiving plural programs, thepresent invention can transmit the contents of an emergency warningbroadcast to a viewer/listener and minimize an interruption by such aspecific broadcast when a user is viewing or recording a televisionprogram.

2. Description of the Related Art

Television viewers can enjoy different types of broadcasting services,including analog terrestrial broadcasting, analog broadcasting satellite(BS) broadcasting, cable broadcasting, digital terrestrial broadcasting,digital BS broadcasting, and digital communication satellite (CS)broadcasting.

Recent television receivers, set-top boxes (STBs), and digital videorecorders (DVRs) are configured to receive two or more types ofbroadcasting services. Thus, television viewers can use plural tunersfor receiving different broadcast programs. For example, a user canrecord a CS broadcast program while viewing a digital terrestrialbroadcast program. If a television receiver is equipped with two digitalterrestrial broadcast tuners, a user can simultaneously record twodifferent programs in the same time slot.

Since 1985, an emergency warning system (EWS) has been managed in Japanfor the purpose of immediately informing the public of an occurrence ofserious disaster or earthquake through television broadcasting or radiobroadcasting. According to the emergency warning system, a broadcaststation transmits an emergency warning broadcast signal and eachreceiver (e.g., television or radio) receives the emergency warningbroadcast signal and performs a predetermined operation to let a vieweror listener recognize the occurrence of an emergency warning.

Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and other commercial broadcastingcompanies employ such an emergency warning system. In particular, NHKcan transmit an emergency warning broadcast signal using all availablebroadcasting media, including digital terrestrial broadcasting, analogterrestrial broadcasting, and digital BS broadcasting. Therefore, eachviewer/listener can receive an emergency warning broadcast signalthrough any broadcast receiver in an on state.

However, if a broadcast receiver is in an off state or in a stand-bymode, the receiver can receive no emergency warning broadcast program.Therefore, important information contained in an emergency warning maynot be transmitted to some users.

To solve the above-mentioned drawback, as discussed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2004-023591, a display device can be forciblyactivated if in an off state to receive a control signal from atelevision broadcast receiving apparatus (tuner) and transmit thecontents of an emergency broadcast, to a viewer/listener.

According to the technique discussed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2004-023591, a television broadcast receiving apparatus isequipped with a power source section capable of supplying electric powerto a display device in an off state when an emergency warning is raised.

Furthermore, the technique discussed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2004-023591 includes processing for determining whether aninstallation location of the broadcast receiver is in a target area ofthe emergency broadcast with reference to installation locationinformation of the broadcast receiver and region identificationinformation involved in emergency information. If it is determined thatthe broadcast receiver is in the target area, electric power is suppliedto the display device. If it is determined that the broadcast receiveris out of the target area, the emergency broadcast is not displayed onthe display device.

If a broadcast receiver is equipped with a single tuner, the techniquediscussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-023591 canbe directly applied to the broadcast receiver. However, as describedabove, recent television receivers, STBs, and DVRs are equipped withplural tuners.

A user will be confused if the technique discussed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2004-023591 is applied to a broadcastreceiving apparatus equipped with plural tuners. More specifically, anemergency warning broadcast can be received by each tuner. Each tunerindependently operates to inform an occurrence of an emergency warningbroadcast. Thus, in a situation that different television programs aredisplayed in a multi-screen display pattern on a display device, if auser simultaneously receives the same contents of an emergency warningbroadcast through different (e.g., digital and analog, or terrestrialand BS) broadcast channels, the user may be unable to appropriatelyconfirm and act in response to the emergency information.

In this respect, as discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNo. 2005-159779, a broadcast receiving apparatus can include pluralreception systems each including a channel selection circuit (tuner) anda decoding circuit. One reception system can be used to continuouslyreceive a reception signal for recording, while the other receptionsystem can be used to select an emergency broadcast channel and displaythe contents of the emergency broadcast on a display device.

However, the technique discussed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2005-159779 cannot be directly employed if plural channelscan simultaneously receive the same emergency warning broadcast. Ifplural channels simultaneously receive the same emergency warningbroadcast, user's viewing or recording a broadcast program may beundesirably interrupted.

In this case, a user cannot properly view or record a desired program.The techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2004-023591 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-159779cannot overcome these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to abroadcast receiving apparatus and a control method that can transmit thecontents of an emergency warning broadcast to a user even when thebroadcast receiving apparatus includes plural tuners capable ofreceiving an emergency warning broadcast signal.

Furthermore, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directedto a broadcast receiving apparatus and a control method that canminimize an interruption by a specific broadcast when a user is viewingor recording a broadcast program.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a broadcast receivingapparatus includes a plurality of tuners, including first and secondtuners, capable of simultaneously receiving broadcast waves of pluralchannels to display a program of a received channel on a display unit orto record a program of a received channel on a storage unit, a storageunit configured to store installation location information of thebroadcast receiving apparatus, an acquisition unit configured to obtaina control signal, the control signal including region informationidentifying a region and channel designation information designating aprogram broadcast channel, a determination unit configured to determinea channel selection state of each of the plurality of tuners; and acontrol unit configured to control a channel selection action of each ofthe plurality of tuners and display processing for the display unit orrecording processing for the storage unit based on the control signalobtained by the acquisition unit and a determination result obtained bythe determination unit. When the region information corresponds to theinstallation location information, if a channel designated by thechannel designation information is different from a channel received bythe first tuner and displayed on the display unit and is equal to achannel received by the second tuner, a program of the channel receivedby the first tuner is recorded on the storage unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided for controlling a broadcast receiving apparatus holdinginstallation location information thereof and including a plurality oftuners, including first and second tuners, capable of simultaneouslyreceiving broadcast waves of plural channels to display a program of areceived channel on a display unit or to record a program of at receivedchannel on a storage unit. The method includes obtaining a controlsignal, the broadcast receiver control signal including regioninformation identifying a region and channel designation informationdesignating a program broadcast channel, determining a channel selectionstate of each of the plurality of tuners; controlling a channelselection action of each of the plurality of tuners and displayprocessing for the display unit or recording processing for the storageunit based on the control signal and a determination result of thechannel selection state, and, when the region information corresponds tothe installation location information, if a channel designated by thechannel designation information is different from a channel received bythe first tuner and displayed on the display unit and is equal to achannel received by the second tuner, recording a program of the channelreceived by the first tuner on the storage unit.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the contents of an emergencywarning broadcast can be transmitted to a user even when the broadcastreceiving apparatus includes plural tuners capable of receiving anemergency warning broadcast signal. Furthermore, an interruption by sucha specific broadcast can be minimized when a user is viewing orrecording a broadcast program.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a digital broadcast receiving systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an integratedreceiver/decoder (IRD) illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a display dataproducing section illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is an illustration of an example of a multi-screen display.

FIG. 4B is another illustration of an example of a multi-screen display.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to afirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for analyzing atransmission and multiplexing configuration control (TMCC) signalaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 7A through 7F are illustrations of exemplary screens displayed inemergency warning broadcast reception processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to asecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a tuner state-of-use identifyingprocedure according to a third exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according tothe third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description of exemplary embodiments is merelyillustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

Processes, techniques, apparatus, and systems as known by one ofordinary skill in the art may not be discussed in detail but areintended to be part of the enabling description where appropriate.

For example, certain circuitry for image processing, data processing,and other uses may not be discussed, in detail. However these systemsand the methods to fabricate these system as known by one of ordinaryskill in the relevant art is intended to be part of the enablingdisclosure herein where appropriate.

It is noted that throughout the specification, similar referencenumerals and letters refer to similar items in the following figures,and thus once an item is defined in one figure, it may not be discussedfor following figures.

Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail below with referenceto the drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a digital broadcast receiving systemaccording to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Eachexemplary embodiment of the present invention is described based on adigital broadcast receiving system, although the present invention isnot limited to the digital broadcast receiving system. In each exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, an emergency warning broadcast isan example of a specific broadcasting different from the ordinarybroadcasting.

However, the specific broadcasting in the present invention is notlimited to an emergency warning broadcast and can include any otherbroadcasting if comparable to the emergency warning broadcast.

An integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) 101 can receive and decode digitalbroadcast data and output video data and audio data. A monitor 102 candisplay the video data and the audio data produced by the IRD 101. Anaudio and visual (AV) cable 103 can transmit video data and audio databetween the IRD 101 and the monitor 102. A remote controller 104 cantransmit an instruction command to the IRD 101 or the monitor 102. Anantenna A 105 can receive a digital terrestrial broadcast signal. Anantenna B 106 can receive a digital satellite broadcast signal. Anantenna cable 107 connects each antenna to the IRD 101.

A digital video recorder (DVR) 108 can record and store video data andaudio data produced by the IRD 101 on a digital versatile disk (DVD), anoptical disk, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, or other recording media.The monitor 102 can reproduce the video and audio data recorded andstored in the DVR 108. A digital cable 109 connects the IRD 101 to theDVR 108. The digital cable 109 is, for example, an IEEE1394 type or alocal area network (LAN) type.

In FIG. 1, the IRD 101, the monitor 102, and the DVR 108 are housed inindividual bodies. The system arrangement is not limited to a specificarrangement. For example, the IRD 101 and the DVR 108 can be assembledin the same housing. Although the antenna A 105 and the antenna B 106receive different digital broadcast signals, the antenna A 105 and theantenna B 106 can be replaced with a cable that can transmit televisionbroadcast data.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the IRD 101. The IRD 101includes a tuner section A 201 that can receive a digital broadcastsignal via the antenna A 105. The tuner section A 201 can applydemodulation processing and error-correction processing to the receivedsignal and produce digital data formatted as a transport stream (TS).

The tuner section A 201 receives a channel selection instruction andproduces TS data of a predetermined channel based on the digitalbroadcast signal. Furthermore, the tuner section A 201 can demodulate atransmission and multiplexing configuration control (TMCC) signaltogether with the TS data.

TMCC signal is a transmission and multiplexing control signal forrealizing a hierarchical modulation method that can designate amodulation method or an error-correction method for each slot (unit ofsignal) on the transmission path. The TMCC signal can be used for amechanism indicating transmission of an emergency warning broadcast.

A tuner section B 212 can receive a digital broadcast signal via theantenna B 106. The tuner section B 212 is functionally similar to thetuner section A 201. In the description of each exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, the tuner section A 201 is referred to as a maintuner and the tuner section B 212 is referred to as a sub tuner. Each ofthe tuner section A 201 and the tuner section B 212 can receive adigital terrestrial broadcast signal, a digital BS broadcast signal, anda digital CS broadcast signal and can produce TS data.

A demultiplexer A 202 receives TS data output from the tuner section A201 or a TS input/output section 216 and executes filtering processingwith a packet identifier (PID) to separate the TS data into variousdata. The demultiplexer A 202 reads a decryption key from a conditionalaccess module (CAM) 208 and decrypts the encrypted TS data with the key.The CAM 208 stores the decryption key to execute descramblingprocessing.

Similarly, a demultiplexer B 213 receives TS data output from the tunersection B 212 or the TS input/output section 216 and executes filteringprocessing with a packet identifier (PID) to separate the TS data intovarious data. An MPEG2 video decoder A 203 can decode MPEG2 image dataseparated by the demultiplexer A 202. An MPEG2 video decoder B 214 candecode MPEG2 image data separated by the demultiplexer B 213.

A display data producing section 204 receives an image signal decoded bythe MPEG2 video decoder A 203, an image, signal decoded by the MPEG2video decoder B 214, and an image of display data created by a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 207. The display data producing section 204combines the received image signals using a frame, memory 211 andproduces a composite image signal having a format (e.g., high-definitionor NTSC) corresponding to the monitor 102.

An MPEG2 audio decoder A 205 receives MPEG2 audio data from thedemultiplexer A 202 and decodes the MPEG2 audio data. An MPEG2 audiodecoder R 215 receives MPEG2 audio data from the demultiplexer B 213 anddecodes the MPEG2 audio data. A digital-to-analog (D/A) conversionsection 206 receives decoding results from the MPEG2 audio decoder A 205and the MPEG2 audio decoder B 215 and outputs stereo audio or otheraudio signals to an external device.

The central processing unit (CPU) 207 is a control unit that can controlvarious functions of the IRD 101. Table data of a program map table(PMT) and data broadcasting-related data separated by the demultiplexerA 202 and the demultiplexer B 213 are sent to the CPU 207. The CPU 207executes processing for decrypting the received data. Furthermore, theCPU 207 executes processing for producing display information to be sentto the display data producing section 204.

More specifically, the CPU 207 can control an image drawing section (notshown) to render display information and send, the display informationto the display data producing section 204. Moreover, the CPU 207 cancontrol a program information storage unit 209 to store broadcastprogram information. Additionally, the CPU 207 receives a TMCC signalfrom each of the tuner section A 201 and the tuner section B 212 andexecutes various processing relating to the emergency warning broadcast.

The program information storage unit 209 stores various table dataprocessed by the CPU 207 as broadcast program information for programselection. An operation input section 210 enables a user to inputvarious operations for broadcast reception via the remote controller 104or an operation panel (not shown). The frame memory 211 can be used as atemporary storage of images when the display data producing section 204combines the images.

The TS input/output section 216 outputs, to the DVR 108 connected viathe digital cable 109, TS data separated by the demultiplexer A 202 andthe demultiplexer B 213. The DVR 108 stores the TS data received fromthe TS input/output section 216. In addition, the TS input/outputsection 216 receives TS data from the DVR 108.

Next, digital broadcast channel selection processing is described withreference to the above-described arrangement. First, a user instructs achannel with the remote controller 104. The CPU 207 receives the channelinstruction as channel information (service ID) via the operation inputsection 210. The CPU 207 converts the channel information into afrequency and a TSID (i.e., transport stream ID). The CPU 207 sets thefrequency and the TSID to the tuner section A 201 or to the tunersection B 212. The tuner section A 201 or the tuner section B 212receives the channel data and converts the received signal into TS data.

The demultiplexer A 202 or the demultiplexer B 213 receives the TS dataconverted by the tuner section 201 or 212 and separates the TS data intoimage data, audio data, and other data. The MPEG2 video decoder A 203 orthe MPEG2 video decoder B 214 decodes the image data. The MPEG2 audiodecoder A 205 or the MPEG2 audio decoder B 215 decodes the audio data.The CPU 207 applies predetermined processing to other data. When the TSdata input from the tuner section 201 or 212 is an encrypted scramblesignal, the demultiplexer 202 or 213 executes decryption processing withthe CAM 208.

The display data producing section 204 receives the image data decodedby the video decoder 203 or 214 and converts the image data into videodata for display. The D/A conversion section 206 receives the audio datadecoded by the audio decoder 205 or 215 and executes D/A conversionprocessing. Through the conversion processing, the D/A conversionsection 206 separates the audio data into a left channel signal and aright channel signal, which are sent to the monitor 102 connected to theIRD 101. Thus, the monitor 102 can display and output the video data andthe audio data.

Next, digital broadcast recording (storage) processing is described withreference to the above-described arrangement. The demultiplexer A 202 orthe demultiplexer B 213 receives the TS data as described in the channelselection processing. The demultiplexer A 202 or the demultiplexer B 213converts the TS data into storage TS data. The TS input/output section216 receives the storage TS data and applies digital transmissioncontent protection (DTCP) or other copyright protection processing tothe received TS data. The DVR 108 receives the copyright protectionprocessed TS data via the digital cable 109 and stores the received TSdata,

Next, TS data playback processing is described. Through predeterminedplayback execution processing, the TS input/output section 216 can inputTS data from the DVR 108 via the digital cable 109. The demultiplexer A202 or the demultiplexer B 213 can receive the TS data from the TSinput/output section 216.

The demultiplexer A 202 or the demultiplexer B 213 separates the TS datainto image data, audio data, and other data. The MPEG2 video decoder A203 or the MPEG2 video decoder B 214 decodes the separated image data.The MPEG2 audio decoder A 205 or the MPEG2 audio decoder B 215 decodesthe audio data. The CPU 207 applies predetermined processing to otherdata in the same manner as in the above-described channel selectionprocessing.

To execute recording reservation of a television program, the CPU 207controls execution timing for storing the program into the DVR 108. Whenrecording reservation of a television program is designated by a user(i.e., manual setting) or based on automatic setting, the programinformation storage unit 209 stores the information relating to thedesignated program. The CPU 207 constantly monitors the time.

The CPU 207 can control the tuner section 201 or 212 to receive adesignated program at the designated time with reference to a programrecording start time stored in the program information storage unit 209.Trough the above-described processing, the tuner section 201 or 212receives TS data of a predetermined channel and the DVR 108 stores theTS data according to the above-mentioned recording processing procedure.

The present invention is not limited to the functions of the IRD 101illustrated in FIG. 2 or the control procedures and actions in theabove-mentioned program channel selection or the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed configuration of the display dataproducing section 204. A resolution conversion section A 301 receivesimage data from the MPEG2 video decoder A 203 and converts the receiveddata into a designated display size. A resolution conversion section B302 receives image data from the MPEG2 video decoder B 214 and convertsthe received data into a designated display size.

An image combining section 303 receives image data from each of theresolution conversion section A 301 and the resolution conversionsection B 302. In addition, the image combining section 303 receivesdisplay information sent from the CPU 207. The resolution conversionsection A 301 and the resolution conversion section B 302 do not executeresolution conversion if conversion of resolution of the image data isnot required. Alternatively, each resolution conversion section can seta conversion rate to 1 so that no substantial size change occurs.

The image combining section 303 executes processing for disposing theimage data output from the resolution conversion section A 301, theimage data output from the resolution conversion section B 302, and thedisplay information sent from the CPU 207 to respective predeterminedareas. The image combining section 303 can combine these image dataaccording to a predetermined rule, using the frame memory 211. A memorycontroller 304 can control the frame memory 211 and input/output ofimage data so that the image combining section 303 can execute imagelayout and combination processing. The frame memory 211 temporarilystores the image data.

A digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion section 305 can convert the imagedata output from the image combining section 303 into a signal formatcorresponding to the monitor 102. Then, the D/A conversion section 305sends the converted image data to the monitor 102.

The image combining section 303 can execute 2-screen display processing.When a user performs a 2-screen display switching operation with theremote controller 104, an operation signal is input into the operationinput section 210. In response to the 2-screen display switching signalinput into the operation input section 210, the CPU 207 instructs theresolution conversion section A 301 and the resolution conversionsection B 302 to produce 2-screen display image data.

To realize a 2-screen display, each of the resolution conversionsections A 301 and B 302 produces a predetermined size of image data.The image combining section 303 receives the 2-screen display image dataoutput from the resolution conversion section A 301 and the resolutionconversion section B 302. The image combining section 303 combines theimage data input from respective resolution conversion sections 301 and302 using the frame memory 211, and produces a composite image in apredetermined layout. The image combining section 303 can combine theabove-described image data with the display information sent from theCPU 207.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of the 2-screen display pattern.According to the example of FIG. 4A, two screens 401 and 402 aredisposed in parallel to each other in the display area of the monitor102. The layout pattern illustrated in FIG. 4A is referred to as“picture-out-picture.”

The image data of a television program of a channel displayed beforeexecuting the 2-screen display processing is converted into apredetermined size and disposed in the main screen 401. The image dataof a television program of another channel designated by a predeterminedoperation is converted into a predetermined size and disposed in the subscreen 402. The layout pattern of the main screen 401 and the sub screen402 is not limited to a particular pattern. For example, the sub screen402 can be located at the left side of the display area of the monitor102.

The IRD 101 of the first exemplary embodiment receives broadcast datafor the main screen by the tuner section A 201 and broadcast data forthe sub screen by the tuner section B 212. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the aforementioned allocation in therelationship between the dissected screens and tuner sections. Forexample, one screen can be used to display the recording image datastored in the DVR 108.

In FIG. 4A, the display information sent from the CPU 207 is displayedin an information display area 403. The display area of the displayinformation can be changed to any other location. Any other method canbe used to combine plural image elements. For example, transparentcompositing (alpha blending) processing can be used to combine pluralimage elements. When a 2-screen display pattern is selected, the IRD 101outputs audio data corresponding to the image data displayed in the mainscreen 401. However, the IRD 101 can output audio data corresponding tothe image data displayed, in the sub screen 402.

FIG. 4B illustrates another 2-screen display pattern, according to whicha sub screen 405 is superimposed on a main screen 404 in the displayarea of the monitor 102. The layout pattern illustrated in FIG. 4B isreferred to as “picture-in-picture.” The main screen 404 has a screensize comparable to a displayable area of the monitor 102 in an ordinary1-screen display pattern. The image data of a television program of achannel displayed before executing the 2-screen display processing isconverted into a predetermined size and disposed in the main screen 404.The image data of a television program of another channel designated bya predetermined operation is converted into a predetermined size anddisposed in the sub screen 405.

The image data displayed in the sub screen 405 is combined, without anytransparency processing, with the image data displayed in the mainscreen 404. The image data displayed in the main screen 404 can beswitched to the image data displayed in sub screen 405. In the presentembodiment, the IRD 101 is equipped with a setting function for defininga setting for causing the image of a channel received by one of thetuner section A 201 and the tuner section B 212 to be displayed in themain screen 404 and causing the image of a channel received by the othertuner section to be displayed in the sub screen 405. Note that, in otherexemplary embodiments to be described below, the IRD 101 is alsoequipped with a similar setting function. The layout area of the subscreen 405 can be changed to any other location. The display informationsent from the CPU 207 can be displayed in an information display area406. The IRD 101 outputs audio delta corresponding to the image datadisplayed in the main screen 404. However, the IRD 101 can output audiodata corresponding to the image data displayed in the sub screen 405.

Subsequently, emergency warning broadcast reception processing isdescribed. The emergency warning broadcast is a special televisionprogram broadcasted from Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) or privatecommercial broadcast stations, for example, in an event of accident ornatural disaster that may give serious influence to the human life orproperties, which can be classified into the following three categories:

(1) earthquake warning issued in the Tokai region (first class);

(2) evacuation instruction issued by a municipal head (first class): and

(3) tsunami warning (second class).

The type of broadcasting is not limited to analog televisionbroadcasting and can be digital broadcasting or radio broadcasting.

In the case of digital broadcasting, although not limited to anemergency warning broadcast, each of the antenna A 105 and the antenna B106 receives a broadcast signal. Each of the tuner section A 201 and thetuner section B 212 produces a TS signal and a TMCC signal, as describedabove. TMCC signal includes the following contents.

Information Name Size Contents Change  5 bits Counter responding tochange of Instruction TMCC signal Transmission  40 bits Indicatingmodulation method of Mode/Slot intra-error correction coded Informationsignal resulting from transmitted main signal, combination of encodingrate in the intra-error correction coding, and number of used slotsRelative TS/Slot 144 bits Area transmitting allocated Informationrelative TS number Relative TS/TSID 128 bits Area indicatingrelationship Correspondence between TSID discriminating coded Tablesignal and relative TS number for effectively transmitting plural TSdata in the same frequency Transmission/  5 bits Activation controlsignal (for Reception Control emergency warning signal) InformationExtended  62 bits TMCC extended area Information

When an emergency warning is transmitted from a broadcast station,change instruction information included in a TMCC signal is incrementedby 1. Then, an activation control signal (a leading 1 bit of 5-bittransmission/reception control information) is changed to “1”(indicating transmission of an emergency warning broadcast). In the IRD101, the CPU 207 constantly monitors the activation control signal andcan recognize the presence of any emergency warning when the activationcontrol signal is changed.

In response to a transmitted emergency warning, the CPU 207 executes thefollowing processing. First, the demultiplexer 202 or 213 separates anemergency information descriptor included in a program map table (PMT)of the service information (SI) data included in the TS data input fromthe tuner section 201 or 212.

SI data includes broadcast program information for forming an electronicprogram guide (EPG). The PMT stores image and audio packet identifiersincluded in the TS data. The CPU 207 analyzes the separated emergencyinformation descriptor, and obtains service_ID, start_end_flag,signal_level, and area_code information from the emergency informationdescriptor. The CPU 207 can designate a broadcasting channel based onthe service_ID information. The CPU 207 can determine whether anemergency warning broadcast is on the air with reference to thestart_end_flag information.

Furthermore, the CPU 207 can determine whether the emergency warningbroadcast is a first-class broadcasting or a second-class broadcastingwith reference to the signal_level information. The CPU 207 can identifya broadcast target area with reference to the area_code information. TheIRD 101 can determine and execute an operation during an emergencywarning broadcast based on the above-mentioned control information.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating emergency warning broadcastreception processing according to the first exemplary embodiment, whichis executed by the CPU 207 in the IRD 101 to control the functionalsections illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the following description, both the tuner section A 201 and the tunersection B 212 are used to display two broadcast programs in a 2-screenpattern. In a broadcast of emergency warning, the display screen isswitched to a full-screen display. In FIG. 5, the tuner section A 201 ofthe IRD 101 is ready for receiving an ordinary broadcast. In step S501,the tuner section A 201 executes processing for producing a TS signaland a TMCC signal from the broadcast data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating detailed actions of each tunersection (i.e., tuner section A 201 or tuner section B 212) performed instep S501.

In step S601 of FIG. 6, each tuner section executes TMCC demodulationprocessing for separating a TMCC signal from broadcast data. The CPU 207receives the TMCC signal and determines whether an activation controlsignal bit of the transmission/reception control information of the TMCCsignal is “1.” If the activation control signal bit is “1,” theprocessing flow proceeds to step S602. If the activation control signalbit is “0,” the processing flow proceeds to step S613.

In step S602, to check the present state of the IRD 101, the CPU 207determines whether the IRD 101 is in a viewing or recording state of anordinary broadcast. If the IRD 101 is in a viewing or recording state ofan ordinary broadcast (i.e., YES in step S602), the processing flowproceeds to step S603. Otherwise, the processing flow proceeds to stepS604.

In step S603, the CPU 207 stores a channel and a broadcast system of anordinary television program presently received by the tuner section intoa predetermined storage unit. The CPU 207 can restart reception of theordinary television program with reference to the stored information,when an emergency warning broadcast ends. The CPU 207 sets a viewingflag to “1” (indicating that the tuner section is in a viewing state)and stores the flag value into a predetermined storage unit. Then, theprocessing flow proceeds to step S606.

In step S604, i.e., when the IRD 101 is not in a viewing or recordingstate of an ordinary broadcast, the CPU 207 determines whether the IRD101 is in a power saving mode. If the IRD 101 is in a power saving mode(i.e., YES in step S604), the processing flow proceeds to step S605.Otherwise, the processing flow proceeds to step S606. The functionalsections in the IRD 101, except each tuner section, the CPU 207, and theoperation input section 210, receive no electric power in the powersaving mode. In step S605, the CPU 207 executes processing for supplyingelectric power to each demultiplexer and each decoder.

In step S606, the CPU 207 decodes and analyzes an emergency informationdescriptor in the PMT. Subsequently, the processing flow proceeds tostep S607. In step S607, the CPU 207 determines the state ofstart_end_flag included in the emergency information descriptor analyzedin step S606. If the state of start_end_flag is “1”, the CPU 207determines that an emergency warning broadcast is on the air. Theprocessing flow then proceeds to step S608. If the state ofstart_end_flag is “0”, the CPU 207 determines that no emergency warningbroadcast is on the air. The processing flow then proceeds to step S612.

In step S608, the CPU 207 determines whether installation location,information corresponds to the area_code. The installation location isset beforehand in the IRD 101. The area_code is included in theemergency information descriptor analyzed in step S606. If the CPU 207determines that the area_code corresponds to the installation locationinformation of the IRD 101 (i.e., YES in step S608), the processing flowproceeds to step S609. If the area_code does not correspond to theinstallation location information of the IRD 101 (i.e., NO in stepS608), the processing flow proceeds to step S612.

In step S609, the CPU 207 determines whether the service_ID of theemergency information descriptor corresponds to the service_ID of thechannel presently receiving a television program. If the CPU 207determines that the service_ID of the emergency information descriptorcorresponds to the service_ID of the channel presently receiving atelevision program (i.e., YES in step S609), the processing flowproceeds to step S610. If the service_ID of the emergency informationdescriptor does not correspond to the service_ID of the channelpresently receiving a television program (i.e., NO in step S609), theprocessing flew proceeds to step S611.

When the service_ID of the emergency information descriptor correspondsto the service_ID of the channel presently receiving a televisionprogram, the emergency warning broadcast is broadcast on the channelpresently receiving a television program. The CPU 207 stores anemergency warning reception flag “11” (indicating interruption of apresent program viewing or recording) into a predetermined storage unit(refer to step S610).

When the service_ID of the emergency information descriptor does notcorrespond to the service_ID of the channel presently receiving atelevision program, the emergency warning broadcast is broadcast on achannel other than the channel presently receiving a television program.The CPU 207 stores an emergency warning reception flag “10” (indicatingoccurrence of a channel selection action and interruption of a programviewing) into a predetermined storage unit (refer to step S611).

In step S612, the CPU 207 stores an emergency warning reception flag“01”, which indicates that the received emergency warning broadcast, isa test broadcast or an emergency warning broadcast applied to a regionnot including the installation location of the IRD 101, into apredetermined storage unit.

In step S613, the CPU 207 stores an emergency warning reception flag“00”, which indicates no reception of an emergency warning broadcast,into a predetermined storage unit. After completing the above-describedprocessing, the processing flow proceeds to step S502 of FIG. 5.

In step S502, the CPU 207 determines the state of emergency warningreception flag described in FIG. 6. If the flag is “11”, the processingflow proceeds to step S503. If the flag is “10” or “01”, the processingflow proceeds to step S506. If the flag is “00”, the processing flowreturns to step S501. In the present embodiment, as the 2-screen displayprocessing is executed as described above, the determination at stepS502 is applied to the broadcasting received by the tuner section A 201.

In step S503, the CPU 207 causes the image drawing section (not shown)to render display information indicating automatic reception of anemergency warning broadcast. Then, the CPU 207 executes the processingfor displaying the rendered display information in the informationdisplay area 403 of FIG. 4A or 406 of FIG. 4B. FIG. 7A illustrates a2-screen display pattern of “picture-out-picture” images displayed onthe monitor 102 in this case.

However, the display information can be also rendered as“picture-in-picture” images and displayed in a predetermined informationdisplay area. When the emergency warning reception flag is “11”, thepresent emergency warning broadcast is applied to the installationlocation of the IRD 101. Therefore, the display information is a messageindicating a highest warning level, such as “Emergency Warning BroadcastReceiving!”

Subsequently, the processing flow proceeds to step S504. In step S504,the CPU 207 performs a control for a full-screen display of theemergency warning broadcast received by the tuner section A 201 so thatthe contents of the present emergency warning broadcast can betransmitted to users. FIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary full-screendisplay pattern used in this case. Then, in step S505, the tuner sectionA 201 receives the emergency warning broadcast and the monitor 102displays the contents of the received emergency warning broadcast.

In another embodiment, a process of activating the DVR 108 to record atelevision program received by the tuner section B 212 and displayed onthe monitor 102 can be inserted between step S503 and step S504. Withthis processing, even when a television program is interrupted by theemergency warning broadcast, a user can later view the program asreceived by the tuner section B 212.

If in step S502 the state of the emergency warning reception flag is“10” or “01,” the processing flow proceeds to step S506. In step S506,the CPU 207 causes the image drawing section (not shown) to renderdisplay information indicating reception of an emergency warningbroadcast.

Then, the CPU 207 executes the processing for displaying the rendereddisplay information in the information display area 403 of FIG. 4A or406 of FIG. 4B. FIG. 7C illustrates a 2-screen display pattern of“picture-out-picture” images displayed on the monitor 102 in this case.

However, the display information can be also rendered as“picture-in-picture” images and displayed in a predetermined informationdisplay area. When the emergency warning reception flag is “10” or “01”,a channel selection action is performed for reception of the emergencywarning broadcast or the emergency warning broadcast is applied to aregion not including the installation location of the IRD 101.Therefore, the display information is a message indicating a lowerwarning level, such as “Emergency Warning Broadcast Detecting.”

Subsequently, in step S507, the CPU 207 executes the processing for thetuner section B 212 described with reference to FIG. 6. In the presentembodiment, the tuner section B 212 receives a broadcast displayed onthe sub screen while the tuner section A 201 receives a broadcastdisplayed on the main screen.

In step S508, the CPU 207 determines the state of an emergency warningreception flag in the tuner section B 212. If the emergency warningreception flag of the tuner section B 212 is “00”, the processing flowproceeds to step S516. In step S516, the CPU 207 stores informationrelating to a broadcast system and a channel presently received by thetuner section B 212 into a predetermined storage unit. Subsequently, theprocessing flow proceeds to step S517. In step S517, the CPU 207switches the channel of the tuner section B 212 to a channel received bythe tuner section A 201.

The reason why the channel of the tuner section B 212 is switched to thechannel received by the tuner section A 201 is as follows. When theprocessing flow proceeds to step S517, the emergency warning receptionflag received by the tuner section A is “10” or “01” and the emergencywarning reception flag received by the tuner section B is “00.” When aTMCC signal received by the tuner section A 201 is a test broadcast(i.e., FLAG “01”), a required display is “Test of Emergency WarningBroadcast.” or “Emergency Warning Broadcast of Another Region.”

However, when the TMCC signal received by the tuner section A 201indicates that the emergency warning broadcast is received by anotherchannel (in case of FLAG “10”), a channel selection action is requiredto let a user view the emergency warning broadcast. Hence, in thepresent embodiment, if the emergency warning reception flag received bythe tuner section A 201 is “10”, the CPU 207 switches the channel of thetuner section B 212 to a channel corresponding to a service_ID of theemergency information descriptor.

After the channel of the tuner section B 212 is switched to the channelof the tuner section A 201 in step S517, the processing flow returns tostep S501. Then, through the determination processing in step S508, theprocessing flow proceeds to step S509. Through this processing, thetuner section B 212 can receive an emergency warning broadcast.

If in step S508 the emergency warning reception flag of the tunersection B 212 is “01”, the processing flow proceeds to step S514. Instep S514, the CPU 207 analyzes the start_end_flag of the emergencyinformation descriptor. If the start_end_flag is “1”, the presentemergency warning broadcast is an emergency warning broadcast applied toanother region. In this case, the processing flow proceeds to step S515.

In step S515, the CPU 207 causes the monitor 102 to display a messageindicating that the present emergency warning broadcast is applied toanother region. FIG. 7D illustrates an example of a display pattern usedin this case. In step S518, the CPU 207 determines whether a display ofthe present emergency warning broadcast is required. If a user requeststhe display of the present emergency warning broadcast applied toanother region, the processing flow proceeds to step S509.

If in step S514 the start_end_flag is “0”, the present emergency warningbroadcast is a test broadcast. The processing flow proceeds to stepS519. The CPU 207 causes the monitor 102 to display a message indicatinga “test of emergency warning broadcast” in the information display areaas illustrated in FIG. 7E, without, changing the 2-screen displaypattern (i.e., without interrupting user's viewing a televisionprogram).

If in step S508 the emergency warning reception flag of the tunersection B 212 is “10”, the processing flow proceeds to step S509. Inthis case, the present channel of the tuner section B 212 is differentfrom the channel receiving the emergency warning broadcast. Thus, instep S509, the CPU 207 controls the tuner section B 212 to select achannel indicated by the service_ID of the emergency informationdescriptor. Subsequently, the processing flow proceeds to step S510.

In step S510, the CPU 207 causes the DVR 108 to record a televisionprogram currently received by the tuner section A 201, because user'sviewing the television program of the tuner section A 201 is interruptedby the display of the emergency warning broadcast selected by the tunersection B 212. Subsequently, in step S511, the CPU 207 causes themonitor 102 to display a message “emergency warning broadcastreceiving!” as illustrated in FIG. 7A. Then, the processing flowproceeds to step S512.

In step S512, the CPU 207 determines a display size of video datareceived by the tuner section B 212 so that the monitor 102 can realizea full-screen display of the emergency warning broadcast received by thetuner section B 212.

Finally, in step S513, the tuner section B 212 receives broadcast dataof a channel corresponding to the service_ID of the emergencyinformation descriptor and the monitor 102 displays the contents of theemergency warning broadcast.

If in step S508 the emergency warning reception flag of the tunersection B 212 is “11”, the emergency warning broadcast is received bythe present channel of the tuner section B 212. The processing flowproceeds to step S510.

As described above, an emergency warning broadcast may be raised in asituation where a user is viewing different television programs with twotuners in a 2-screen display pattern. In such a case, if the emergencywarning broadcast is important for the user, the broadcast receivingsystem of the present embodiment can realize a full-screen display ofthe emergency warning broadcast to let the user know the contents of theemergency warning.

Furthermore, the broadcast receiving system of the present embodimentcan automatically execute the processing for recording a televisionprogram currently viewed by a user in the event that the display of theemergency warning broadcast forcibly interrupts the user's viewing ofthe television program. Thus, the present embodiment provides for theusability of the broadcast receiving system by transmitting an emergencywarning to a user while automatically recording the television programcurrently being viewed by the user.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

Next, a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention isdescribed. The second exemplary embodiment is similar to the firstexemplary embodiment in system configuration (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2).The first exemplary embodiment realizes a full-screen display of anemergency warning broadcast applied to another region using the tunersection B 212 if a user requests a display of the emergency warningbroadcast.

However, a user may not wish the television program being viewed on amain screen to be forcibly interrupted by the emergency warningbroadcast of another region. The second exemplary embodiment isdifferent from the first exemplary embodiment in the processing executedin response to reception of an emergency warning broadcast applied toanother region during a 2-screen display of television programs.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating emergency warning broadcast receptionprocessing according to the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8 includesthe same processing as FIG. 5 and, therefore, uses the same stepnumbers, although the same processing is not described again in thepresent embodiment.

If in step S515 the emergency warning broadcast received by the tunersection B 212 is an emergency warning broadcast applied to anotherregion, the CPU 207 causes the monitor 102 to display a messageindicating that the present emergency warning broadcast is applied toanother region as illustrated in FIG. 7D. In step S518, the CPU 207determines whether a display of the present emergency warning broadcastis required. If a user requests the display of the present emergencywarning broadcast applied to another region, the processing flowproceeds to step S801.

In this case, the present channel of the tuner section B 212 isdifferent from the channel receiving the emergency warning broadcast.Thus, in step S801, the CPU 207 controls the tuner section B 212 toselect a channel indicated by the service_ID of the emergencyinformation descriptor. Subsequently, the processing flow proceeds tostep S802.

In step S802, the CPU 207 causes the monitor 102 to display a messageindicating reception of an emergency warning broadcast of another regionin the information display area. Subsequently, the processing flowproceeds to step S513. The tuner section B 212 receives a channelcorresponding to the service_ID of the emergency information descriptor,and the monitor 102 displays the contents of the emergency warningbroadcast. FIG. 7F illustrates an example of a 2-screen display of“picture-in-picture” images displayed on the monitor 102 in steps S802and step S513.

As described above, an emergency warning broadcast may occur in asituation where a user is viewing different television programs with twotuners in a 2-screen display pattern. If the received emergency warningbroadcast is an emergency warning broadcast applied to another region,the broadcast receiving system of the present embodiment displays theemergency warning broadcast on the sub screen without interrupting atelevision program displayed on the main screen.

Thus, the present embodiment allows a user to continue viewing atelevision program displayed on the main screen while recognizing thecontents of the emergency warning broadcast applied to another region.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

Next, a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention isdescribed. The third exemplary embodiment is similar to the firstexemplary embodiment in system configuration (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2).The above-described first and second exemplary embodiments presume anoccurrence of an emergency warning broadcast in a situation where a useris viewing different television programs with two tuners in a 2-screendisplay pattern.

The third exemplary embodiment is different from the first and secondexemplary embodiments in that the broadcast receiving system controlsthe reception processing of an emergency warning broadcast based on thestate of use in each tuner.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining the stateof use in each tuner section. To execute the processing illustrated inFIG. 9, the CPU 207 controls the functional sections illustrated in FIG.2. FIG. 9 relates to the processing for detecting a state of use of thetuner section and a state of emergency warning broadcast receptionillustrated in FIG. 6. The processing illustrated in FIG. 9 is executedfor each tuner section. Although the third exemplary embodimentdescribes the processing performed in the tuner section A 201, similarprocessing is performed in the tuner section B 212.

In step S901, the CPU 207 determines whether the viewing flag set instep S603 of FIG. 6 is “1.” If the viewing flag is “1”, i.e., when thetuner section is presently used, the processing flow proceeds to stepS904. For example, the tuner section may be used for displaying atelevision program on the monitor 102 or recording a television programon the DVR 108. In step S904, the CPU 207 sets a state-of-use flag “01”indicating that the tuner section is presently used and terminates theprocessing of this routine. The set flag can be stored in apredetermined storage unit.

If in step S901 the viewing flag is “0”, i.e., when the tuner section isnot presently used, the processing flow proceeds to step S902. In stepS902, the CPU 207 determines whether a recording reservation of atelevision program using the tuner section is set by a user. If there isno program recording reservation, the processing flow proceeds to stepS907. In step S907, the CPU 207 sets a state-of-use flag “00” indicatingthat the tuner section is not presently used and will not be used for awhile. Then, the CPU 207 terminates the processing of this routine.

If in step S902 any program recording reservation using this tunersection is set, the processing flow proceeds to step S903. In step S903,the CPU 207 determines whether the scheduled program recording startswithin a predetermined/designated setting time. The setting time is, forexample, 30 minutes. In other words, in step S903, the CPU 207 executesthe processing for determining whether the tuner section will be usedfor program recording even if the tuner section is not presently used.

If in step S903 the CPU 207 determines that the program recording startswithin the setting time, the processing flow proceeds to step S905. Instep S905, the CPU 207 sets a state-of-use flag “11” indicating that thetuner section will be used for a scheduled program recording. Then, theCPU 207 terminates the processing of this routine.

If in step S903 the CPU 207 determines that the program recording doesnot start within the setting time, the processing flow proceeds to stepS906. In step S906, the CPU 207 sets a state-of-use flag “10” indicatingthat the program recording by the tuner section does not start withinthe setting time. Then, the CPU 207 terminates the processing of thisroutine. The CPU 207 repeatedly executes the processing illustrated inFIG. 9 at predetermined time intervals.

By repeatedly executing the processing of FIG. 9, the CPU 207 canpromptly detect a change of the viewing state, a change of the presenceof a program recording, and a change/cancellation of a program recordingreservation. The CPU 207 can reset the viewing state flag in a shortperiod of time.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating emergency warning broadcast,reception processing according to the third exemplary embodiment. Theabove-described first and second exemplary embodiments presume that, auser is viewing different television programs with two tuners in a2-screen display pattern.

However, the user's viewing style is not limited to a particular patternin the third exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 includes the same processingas FIGS. 5 and 8 and, therefore, uses the same step numbers, althoughthe same processing is not described again in the present embodiment.

In step S1001, the CPU 207 checks the state-of-use flag of the tunersection B 212 according to the processing described in the FIG. 9. Then,the processing flow proceeds to step S1002. In step S1002, the CPU 207determines whether the state-of-use flag of the tuner section B 212 is“11”, “01”, “10”, or “00.” If the state-of-use flag is “11” or “01”, thetuner section B 212 is within the setting time and is either being usedor will be used for viewing or recording. In this case, the processingflow proceeds to step S1003. If the state-of-use flag is “10” or “00”,there is no recording reservation using the tuner section B 212 or areserved recording of the tuner section B 212 does not start within thesetting time. In this case, the processing flow proceeds to step S509.

In step S1003, the CPU 207 checks the state-of-use flag of the tunersection A 201 according to the processing described in the FIG. 9. Then,the processing flow proceeds to step S1004. In step S1004, the CPU 207determines whether the state-of-use flag of the tuner section A 201 is“11”, “01”, “10”, or “00.”

If the state-of-use flag of the tuner section A 201 is “11” or “01”, thetuner section A 201 is within the setting time and is being used or willbe used for viewing or recording. In this case, the processing flowproceeds to step S509.

As mentioned above, in each exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the tuner section A 201 is used as a main tuner and the tunersection B 212 is used as a sub tuner. Accordingly, the tuner section B212 is preferably used to receive an emergency warning broadcast if thetuner section A 201 is presently used or will be used. However, if instep S502 the state of the emergency warning reception flag of the tunersection A 201 is “11” (i.e., when a received emergency warning requiresa channel selection action), the tuner section A 201 can be used toreceive the emergency warning broadcast,

On the other hand, if the state of the emergency warning reception flagof the tuner section A 201 is “10” or “01”, the present embodimentreceives an emergency warning broadcast even when the tuner section B212 is presently used or will be used. Thus, a user's viewing of abroadcast program using the tuner section A 201 is not interrupted.Therefore, when the state-of-use flag of the tuner section A 201 is “11”or “01”, the processing flow proceeds to step S509.

If in step S1004 the state-of-use flag of the tuner section A 201 is“10” or “00”, there is no recording reservation using the tuner sectionA 201 or a reserved recording of the tuner section A 201 does not startwithin the setting time. Namely, the tuner section B 212 is presentlyused or will be used, while the tuner section A 201 is not presentlyused and will not be used for a while.

In this case, the tuner section A 201 (i.e., main tuner) can be used toreceive an emergency warning broadcast because a viewer is presentlyviewing a program using the tuner section B 212 or expecting a programrecording using the tuner section B 212. In this case, the processingflow proceeds to step S1005.

In step S1005, the CPU 207 controls the tuner section A 201 to select achannel indicated by the service_ID of the emergency informationdescriptor. Subsequently, through the above-described processing ofsteps S503 and S504, the processing flow proceeds to step S505. Then,the CPU 207 terminates the processing of this routine. If in step S1004the state-of-use flag of the tuner section A 201 is “11” or “01”, or ifin step S1002 the state-of-use flag of the tuner section B 212 is “10”or “00”, the processing flow proceeds to step S509.

In step S509, the CPU 207 controls the tuner section B 212 to select achannel indicated by the service_ID of the emergency informationdescriptor. Subsequently, the processing flow proceeds to step S510. Inthe aforementioned first and second exemplary embodiments, the CPU 207controls the DVR 108 to record a television program currently receivedby the tuner section A 201 in step S510. However, in the presentembodiment, the processing of step S510 is dependent on the situation.For example, if the tuner section A 201 is used to view a televisionprogram, the CPU 207 can record the television program in step S510.However, a user may not be using the tuner section A 201. In this case,the CPU 207 can skip the processing of step S510.

The processing of step S510 and succeeding steps is similar to theprocessing described in the aforementioned exemplary embodiments and isnot described again in the present embodiment.

As described above, the broadcast receiving system according to thepresent embodiment can properly respond to an occurrence of an emergencywarning broadcast in a non-viewing state (i.e., standby state), in a1-screen viewing state, in a 2-screen viewing state, in a programrecording state, or in a program recording reservation state.

According to the present embodiment, a user's viewing or recording of ahigher-priority program is not interrupted by the reception of anemergency warning broadcast unless a broadcaster cancels the broadcastof the program. Instead, a lower-priority program may be replaced withan emergency warning broadcast. As a result, not only can an emergencywarning broadcast can be displayed, but a user's viewing or recording abroadcast program can be continued satisfactorily.

In the present embodiment, the tuner section A 201 functions as a maintuner and the tuner section B 212 functions as a sub tuner.Alternatively, the tuner section B 212 can be used as a main tuner.

As understood from the above-described exemplary embodiments, the CPU207 functions as an acquisition unit configured to obtain a broadcastreceiving apparatus control signal involved in the PMT and alsofunctions as a determination unit configured to determine a channelselection state of each tuner. Furthermore, the CPU 207 functions as acontrol unit configured to control a channel selection action of eachtuner or display processing of the monitor 102 or recording processingof the DVR 108 based on the broadcast receiving apparatus control signaland the channel selection state of the tuner.

Moreover, the CPU 207 functions as a checking unit configured to check astate of use of each tuner. However, respective functions of the presentinvention can be executed by different CPUs or application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs). A hardware arrangement, or a combination ofa hardware arrangement and a software arrangement, can also be used torealize the functions of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described based on the aboveembodiments, any method described in these exemplary embodiments caneffectively solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. Thus, the presentinvention can transmit the contents of an emergency warning broadcast toa user even when a broadcast receiving apparatus includes plural tunerscapable of receiving an emergency warning broadcast signal. Furthermore,the present invention can minimize an interruption by a specificbroadcast when a user is viewing or recording a broadcast program.

Furthermore, software program code for realizing the functions of theabove-described exemplary embodiments can be supplied to a system or anapparatus connected to various devices. A computer (or CPU ormicro-processing unit (MPU)) in the system or the apparatus can executethe program to operate the devices to realize the functions of theabove-described exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the presentinvention encompasses the program code installable in a computer whenthe functions or processes of the exemplary embodiments can be realizedby the computer.

In this case, the program code itself can realize the functions of theexemplary embodiments. The equivalents of programs can be used if theypossess comparable functions. Furthermore, the present inventionencompasses supplying the program code to a computer, such as a storage(or recording) medium storing the program code. In this case, the typeof program can be any one of object code, interpreter program, and OSscript data.

A storage medium supplying the program can be selected from any one of afloppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical (MO) disk,a compact disk-ROM (CD-ROM), a CD-recordable (CD-R), a CD-rewritable(CD-RW), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and a DVD(DVD-ROM, DVD-R).

The method for supplying the program includes accessing a web site onthe Internet using the browsing function of a client computer, when theweb site allows each user to download the computer program of thepresent invention.

Moreover, each broadcast receiving apparatus can automatically download,as part of broadcast data, the program code constituting the programs ofthe present invention. Each broadcaster can periodically update theprograms and transmit the newest version to each receiver in anappropriate time slot of its broadcast schedule.

The present invention can be applied to a system including pluraldevices or can be applied to a single apparatus.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: areceiving unit capable of simultaneously receiving broadcast signals ofplural channels to display a program of a received channel on a displayunit; an obtaining unit configured to obtain a control signal includingchannel designation information designating a program broadcast channel;a determination unit configured to determine whether a channeldesignated by the channel designation information corresponds to achannel received by the receiving unit; and a control unit configured tocontrol a channel selection action of the receiving unit and displayprocessing for the display unit or recording processing for a recordingunit based on the control signal obtained by the obtaining unit and adetermination result obtained by the determination unit, wherein, if thechannel designated by the channel designation information is differentfrom a first channel of a program being displayed on the display unit,the control unit controls the display unit to display a program of asecond channel designated by the channel designation information andcontrols the recording unit to record a program of the first channel. 2.The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thereceiving unit includes first and second tuners, and wherein, if thechannel designated by the channel designation information is differentfrom the first channel of a program being received by the first tunerand displayed on the display unit, the control unit controls the secondtuner to receive the second channel designated by the channeldesignation information, controls the display unit to display theprogram of the second channel, and controls the recording unit to recordthe program of the first channel received by the first tuner.
 3. Abroadcast receiving apparatus comprising: a plurality of tuners,including first and second tuners, capable of simultaneously receivingbroadcast signals of plural channels to display a program of a receivedchannel on a display unit; an obtaining unit configured to obtain acontrol signal including channel designation information designating aprogram broadcast channel; a determination unit configured to determinewhether a channel designated by the channel designation informationcorresponds to a channel received by the first tuner or a channelreceived by the second tuner; a checking unit configured to check astate of use of each of the plurality of tuners; and a control unitconfigured to cause one of the plurality of tuners to receive abroadcast program of the channel designated by the channel designationinformation to display the received broadcast program on the displayunit based on the control signal obtained by the obtaining unit, adetermination result obtained by the determination unit, and a checkingresult obtained by the checking unit, wherein, if the channel designatedby the channel designation information is different from a channelreceived by each of the first and second tuners, the control unitselects a tuner to receive the channel designated by the channeldesignation information based on the state of use of the first tunerand/or the second tuner.
 4. The broadcast receiving apparatus accordingto claim 3, wherein, if the checking unit determines that the secondtuner is not being used and will not be used for a predetermined periodof time, the second tuner selects the channel designated by the channeldesignation information.
 5. The broadcast receiving apparatus accordingto claim 3, wherein, if the checking unit determines that the secondtuner is being used or will be used within a predetermined period oftime, the checking unit checks a state of use of the first tuner.
 6. Thebroadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, if thechecking unit determines that the first tuner is being used or will beused within a predetermined period of time, the second tuner selects thechannel designated by the channel designation information.
 7. Thebroadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, if thechecking unit determines that the first tuner is being used and aprogram of a channel received by the first tuner is displayed on thedisplay unit, the program of the channel received by the first tuner isrecorded by a recording unit.
 8. The broadcast receiving apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein, if the checking unit determines that thefirst tuner is not being used and will not be used for a predeterminedperiod of time, the first tuner selects the channel designated by thechannel designation information.
 9. A method for controlling a broadcastreceiving apparatus including a receiving unit capable of simultaneouslyreceiving broadcast signals of plural channels to display a program of areceived channel on a display unit, the method comprising: obtaining acontrol signal including channel designation information designating aprogram broadcast channel; determining whether a channel designated bythe channel designation information corresponds to a channel received bythe receiving unit; controlling a channel selection action of thereceiving unit and display processing for the display unit or recordingprocessing for a recording unit based on the control signal and a resultof determining whether the channel designated by the channel designationinformation corresponds to the channel received by the receiving unit;and if the channel designated by the channel designation information isdifferent from a first channel of a program being displayed on thedisplay unit, controlling the display unit to display a program of asecond channel designated by the channel designation information andcontrolling the recording unit to record a program of the first channel.10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the receiving unit includesa first tuner that receives the first channel and a second tuner thatreceives the second channel designated by the channel designationinformation.
 11. A method for controlling a broadcast receivingapparatus including a plurality of tuners, including first and secondtuners, capable of simultaneously receiving broadcast signals of pluralchannels to display a program of a received channel on a display unit,the method comprising: obtaining a control signal including channeldesignation information designating a program broadcast channel;determining whether a channel designated by the channel designationinformation corresponds to a channel received by the first tuner or achannel received by the second tuner; checking a state of use of each ofthe plurality of tuners; controlling one of the plurality of tuners toreceive a broadcast program of the channel designated by the channeldesignation information to display the received broadcast program on thedisplay unit based on the control signal, a result of determiningwhether the channel designated by the channel designation informationcorresponds to the channel received by the first tuner or the channelreceived by the second tuner, and a result of checking the state of useof each of the plurality of tuners; and if the channel designated by thechannel designation information is different from a channel received byeach of the first and second tuners, selecting a tuner to receive thechannel designated by the channel designation information based on thestate of use of the first tuner and/or the second tuner.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 11, further comprising controlling the second tunerto select the channel designated by the channel designation informationif it is determined that the second tuner is not being used, and willnot be used for a predetermined period of time.
 13. The method accordingto claim 11, further comprising checking a state of use of the firsttuner if it is determined that the second tuner is being used or will beused within a predetermined period of time.
 14. The method according toclaim 13, further comprising controlling the second tuner to select thechannel designated by the channel designation information if it isdetermined that the first tuner is being used or will be used within apredetermined period of time.
 15. The method according to claim 14,further comprising recording a program of a channel received by thefirst tuner if it is determined that the first tuner is being used andthe program of the channel received by the first tuner is displayed onthe display unit.
 16. The method according to claim 13, furthercomprising controlling the first tuner to select the channel designatedby the channel designation information if it is determined that thefirst tuner is not being used and will not be used for a predeterminedperiod of time.
 17. A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: areceiving unit capable of receiving broadcast signals of plural channelsto simultaneously display video images of the respective receivedchannels on a display unit; a setting unit configured to define adisplay setting for causing a video image of a first channel received bythe receiving unit to be displayed as a main screen on the display unitand causing a video image of a second channel received by the receivingunit to be displayed as a sub screen on the display unit; an obtainingunit configured to obtain channel designation information designating aprogram broadcast channel from a control signal received by thereceiving unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether achannel designated by the channel designation information corresponds tothe first channel or the second channel; and a control unit configuredto, based on the channel designation information obtained by theobtaining unit, the display setting defined by the setting unit, and adetermination result obtained by the determination unit, control thereceiving unit to receive a program broadcast channel designated by thechannel designation information, wherein, if the channel designated bythe channel designation information is different from the first channeland a video image of the first channel is set to be displayed as themain screen, the control unit controls the display unit to display thechannel designated by the channel designation information to bedisplayed on the display unit, wherein the receiving unit includes firstand second tuners, and wherein, if the channel designated by the channeldesignation information is different from the first channel beingreceived by the first tuner and a video image of the first channel isset to be displayed as the main screen, the control unit controls thedisplay unit to display the channel designated by the channeldesignation information.
 18. The broadcast receiving apparatus accordingto claim 17, wherein, in response to determining that the second tuneris used to receive the channel designated by the channel designationinformation, the control unit executes control for changing a displaymode of a video image of the channel received by the second tuner from asub screen display mode to a full screen display mode.
 19. The broadcastreceiving apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, in response tochanging a display mode of a video image of the channel received by thesecond tuner from the sub screen display mode to the full screen displaymode, the control unit executes control for recording a video image ofthe first channel being received by the first tuner by a recording unit.20. A method for controlling a broadcast receiving apparatus including areceiving unit capable of receiving broadcast signals of plural channelsto simultaneously display video images of the respective receivedchannels on a display unit, the method comprising: defining a displaysetting for causing a video image of a first channel received by thereceiving unit to be displayed as a main screen on the display unit andcausing a video image of a second channel received by the receiving unitto be displayed as a sub screen on the display unit; obtaining channeldesignation information designating a program broadcast channel from acontrol signal received by the receiving unit; determining whether achannel designated by the channel designation information corresponds tothe first channel or the second channel; controlling the receiving unitto receive a program broadcast channel designated by the channeldesignation information based on the channel designation information,the display setting, and a result of determining whether the channeldesignated by the channel designation information corresponds to thefirst channel or the second channel; and controlling the display unit todisplay the channel designated by the channel designation information,if the channel designated by the channel designation information isdifferent from the first channel and a video image of the first channelis set to be displayed as the main screen, wherein the receiving unitincludes first and second tuners, and wherein, if the channel designatedby the channel designation information is different from the firstchannel being received by the first tuner and a video image of the firstchannel is set to be displayed as the main screen, the display unit iscontrolled to display the channel designated by the channel designationinformation.
 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising,in response to determining that the second tuner is used to receive achannel designated by the channel designation information, changing adisplay mode of a video image of the channel received by the secondtuner from a sub screen display mode to a full screen display mode. 22.The method, according to claim 21, further comprising, in response tochanging a display mode of a video image of the channel received by thesecond tuner from the sub screen display mode to the full screen displaymode, recording a video image of the first channel being received by thefirst tuner by a recording unit.